Frank Workman (Spotsylvania, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Aug. 15-21.

Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.

Workman qualified for two U.S. World Wrestling Teams during the weekend in competitions held in Palm Beach County, Fla. He has earned a right to represent the United States at both the World Beach Wrestling Championships and the World Sombo Championships, set for Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 1-5.

Workman qualified for the U.S. Beach World Team on Saturday, August 19 at the Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort. 

He placed second at the U.S. Beach National Championships at 276 pounds in the Senior division. He won three of his four bouts for the tournament, stopping Doug Joseph of Pennsylvania, Robert Severin of Florida and Carlos Dolmo of New York. His only loss came to U.S. Nationals champion Angelo Borzio of Pennsylvania by pin.

By placing in the top three of his weight at the U.S. Nationals, Workman qualified for the U.S. Beach World Team Trials, which was held immediately following the national tournament. He was entered in the Above 85 kg/187.25 lbs. division. He won his first two matches in the World Team Trials, beating Craig Salvatore of New Jersey and Jeff Zastrow of Wisconsin. In the championship finals, he lost to Dolmo, 2-0.

The U.S. Beach World Team at the Above 85 kg/187.25 lbs. division will consist of three wrestlers: Workman, Dolmo and Borzio.

The next day, on Sunday, August 20, at the North Palm Beach Community Center in North Palm Beach, Fla., Workman won a gold medal at the U.S. Sombo National Championships. This is the qualifying event for the World Sombo Championships, and only one athlete per division may compete at the World meet.

Competing at the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. division on the Senior level, Workman stopped Thomas Campbell of Florida by submission in 2:40 to claim the gold medal.

Workman is currently a member of Greco-Roman Team USA on the Senior level, placing third at the 2006 World Team Trials. He was also a national team member in 2003-04, after placing third at the World Team Trials that year. Workman was third at the 2006 U.S. Nationals, sixth at the 2004 U.S. Nationals and seventh at the 2001 and 2002 U.S. Nationals. He was fourth in the the 2001 CISM World Military Championships.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he qualified for the 1997 NCAA Div. I Championships. He was a 1993 Ohio state high school champion and placed second at the High School National Championships that year. He holds a rank of Captain in the U.S. Marines Corps.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org